Apply: AfDB Chief Services, Procurement Officer

By Development Diaries
March 13, 2021

Deadline: 11 April, 2021

Location: Tunis, Tunisia

African Development Bank (AfDB) is seeking to fill the role of Chief Corporate General Services and Procurement Officer.

AfDB’s mission is to spur sustainable economic development and social progress in its regional member countries (RMCs).

Responsibilities

Lead procurement and contracting management by deciding on complex procurement cases up to UA 150,000, prepare procurement cases up to UA 300,000 for the approval of director general, and, above the threshold, submit complex procurement cases for approvals to the general services and procurement department management or to the purchasing committee
Plan, organise, coordinate and supervise the activities of general services and procurement in the regional and country offices
Decide and provide advice on procurement issues within the delegated authorities, as amended, from time to time
Provide expert internal procurement advice to the entire bank’s regional and country offices under the incumbent’s purview
Recommend policy change to the general services and procurement department management in terms of the bank institutional procurement of goods, services, and works, and assist in preparation of application documents for the policy instrument
Lead the procurement process analyses and preparation of reports
Identify the weaknesses and propose improvements required by the bank in corporate general services
Provide leadership and technical guidance to other professional and support staff in the region and country on corporate general services and institutional procurement
Resolve complex procurement issues such as disputes involving large amounts, interpreting rules and guidelines for situations not provided in existing manuals, approving terms of reference for complex specifications, etc
Set priorities for staff concerning the corporate general services
Lead the assessment of corporate general services and internal procurement process effectiveness and propose to the management any review and update the directives of the procedures governing the internal procurement of works and services from the bank capital and administrative budgets and propose policy changes
Participate in or lead negotiation and preparatory work required for the approval of contracts
Lead local and international market research, procurement of high risk, complex or large amount procurements
Lead preparation of annual as well as long-term procurement plans from the region’s perspective and supervise implementation
Resolve dispute on bank’s contracts before they are transferred to other rightful authorities as per bank’s procurement policy
Disseminate information on the directives and procurement opportunities offered by the bank’s procurement to the local and international business communities
Lead assessment of existing computerised systems for procurement, and propose improvement in view of best practices and introduction of new technologies
Lead in category management for ease of classified and standardised commodities, works and goods
Analyse and draw conclusions and lessons concerning suppliers’ performance to assist the bank’s management in formulation of guidelines for recruitment and future use of suppliers
Supervise the administrative officers, local procurement officers, administrative assistants and secretaries to ensure travel requests are processed in line with the travel policy
Supervise the activities of any selected travel agency to ensure the services providers are in line with the terms of reference for the contract
Supervise the use of the official vehicles in the regional and country offices and have assurance that they are used in line with the land transport policy and manual, and also that related reports are prepared and sent out on a monthly basis
Lead in management of facilities such as buildings, equipment, generators, UPS, CCTV security cameras, utilities and communication infrastructure aesthetics, functionality and operationality and report to the general services and procurement department management if changes are required on facilities
Lead in management of inventory and assets, the use and allocation of right quantities of office furniture and equipment and report any suggestions that may impact on the asset management policy
Provide and support preparation of briefings and papers on the general services and procurement department issues and provide statistics periodically etc. for the management, regional directorate general, the general services and procurement department, and/or board directors
Draft a write-up for annual report which is submitted to the management, regional directorate general, the general services and procurement department and the boards
Lead in answering audit queries and lead in implementation of audit recommendations with regard to processes unique for regional and country offices
Prepare training materials on institutional procurement for the bank staff at the regional and country offices in coordination with the general services and procurement department management team
Design, develop and deliver training and outreach programmes for vendor and supplier community in the region

Requirements

Master’s degree, minimum, in Administration, Business, Economics, Law, Procurement and Supply Chain Management, Engineering, or a related qualification
Seven years, minimum, of experience in procurement, supply chain management or law
Qualification in Procurement and/or Supply Chain Management (desirable)
Private sector experience will be an added advantage
Supervisory experience in leading a team (desirable)
Competency in providing strategic leadership and direction to procurement and supply chain matters
Strategic procurement handling and contracting
Ability to lead in arranging or categorising works, goods and services, spend according to specifics, keeping in mind quality service, risks and costs
Ability to produce quality work, think carefully about the likely effects on others
Ability to discuss, explore and influence positions and alternatives in order to reach outcomes that will gain acceptance of all parties and meet the intended strategic procurement objectives
Ability to visualise, articulate and solve complex problems, concepts and make decisions that make sense based on all available information
Ability to communicate effectively (written and oral) in English or French
Competence in the use of standard Microsoft Office applications,
Knowledge of SAP is an added advantage